BBC Sportsound pundits Pat Bonner and Craig Levein have been talking up the potential left centre-back role Liam Scales could carry out at Celtic if given the chance.
Since arriving from Shamrock Rovers in the summer, Scales has been rooted to the left-back position. All of his outings as a Celtic player so far have come down the left. A touch surprising given he was a regular for Shamrock as a centre-back last term.
Scales only cost the Hoops a reported fee of £500k [Glasgow Times]. The early signs are that it was worth every penny as he continues to provide invaluable cover.
However, both Bonner and Levein, who watched Celtic hammer Raith at Parkhead yesterday, told BBC Sportsound he could do a job as a left centre-back if necessary:
Pat Bonner: “You could go to a 3 at the back. With Jullien back that could be an option because you have an extra defender who can play with Carter-Vickers on one side or Welsh on the other side. Or Scales because he’s left-sided. I was talking to the Irish manager about him a couple of days ago and he actually thinks also that he could play left-centre-back.”
Craig Levein: “I thought that as well. He’s a decent size, he’s got good pace, he’s left-sided and seems reasonable confident in possession of the ball. He seems a reasonably tough lad as well so he’s got the capabilities. I think he gives that balance because he’s left-sided.”
Pat Bonner: “That’s the thing, and it’s always been missing for me when you have all right-footers playing across the back. We haven’t seen a left-sider for a long, long time. It gets you unbalanced at times and it’s unfair to the guy who’s right-footed playing on the left at times. Even body shape you can get caught a little bit.”
Celtic defender Liam Scales can operate in more than 1 position
Scales has several different positions he can feature in if Postecoglou feels necessary. Not only can he perform as a left-back and centre-back, but he also has a history of playing further up the pitch on the left flank. That’s something he did earlier this season with Shamrock Rovers before his move to Glasgow.
But it’s clear his experience as a centre-back would stand him in the best stead if he was to be moved position. It’s undoubtedly where the player would be most comfortable in.
Of course, in saying that, it’s not as if this is a change Ange really needs to consider at the moment. He has Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Christopher Jullien, and Stephen Welsh available to him at the moment. If Scales was to move position then chances are he would be 5th choice.
He has a better opportunity of gaining more game-time exactly where he is. He’s ahead of Boli Bolingoli in the pecking order and will likely be given further chances when Ange feels the time is right to rest Greg Taylor.
There’s quite simply no need to rock the boat anytime soon. It’s great to know that Scales could be such a versatile option in the long-term future. It’s the kind of player a manager loves after all.
But Ange clearly sees him as a left-back first and foremost. That’s where he’ll likely be staying for now.
In other news, Ange Postecoglou’s brilliant Australian media remarks on why Celtic was formed
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